SCHNEIDER, Esther 1922 – 2016

Schneider, Esther, of Vulcan, peacefully passed away at the Vulcan Community Health Centre June 18, 2016 at the age of 93 years.

Esther was born on September 18, 1922 to George and Maria Schneider of McCook, Nebraska. She was the only girl in the family and had eight brothers who thought the world of her. Esther took her schooling in McCook and graduated in 1938 at the age of sixteen.

After school, Esther’s family moved briefly to Washington, then to Portland, Oregon where she took a job as a bookkeeper for a furniture store. Esther met Alex at a church conference in Portland and they were later married on Oct. 18, 1946. They moved to Alex’s farm at Paha, near Ritzville, Washington after their honeymoon.

While in Ritzville, Sharon and Paul, the first two of seven children were born. In 1952 Alex and Esther moved to Vulcan, Alberta to pursue farming opportunities there. While there, Carol and John were born. Alex, Esther and family were in Vulcan for 4 years and then had to move back to Washington because of citizenship restrictions. Esther and Alex’s last three children Linda, Keith and Ray were born in Ritzville.

In 1967 Alex and Esther decided to move back to the farm in Alberta where Esther was a very active mother and farm wife, hauling grain, feeding hired men and taking care of a large family. She was also involved with her church women’s ministry group. Esther remained on the farm until 93 when failing health required her to move to Extendicare in February, 2016. She then moved to long-term care at the Vulcan Hospital where she resided until she went to be with her Lord on June 18, 2016.

Esther is survived by seven children: Sharon (Grant) Disley of Toronto; Paul (Onalee) Schneider of Seattle, WA and their children Lindsey (Dave) & great grandchild Jocelyn Hingston, Michael, Kimberly, Steven all of Seattle, WA.; Carol of Vulcan; John of Vulcan; Linda (Dan) Wester of Tilley and their children Greg (Cabrinie) & great grandchildren Octavia & Aurelia Wester of Calgary, Dale (Jody) & great grandchildren Benjamin & Reid Wester of Tilley; Keith of Grimshaw, AB; Ray (Donna) of Vulcan. She also leaves one brother: Ed (Paula) of Portland, Oregon and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Alex; her parents George and Maria; seven brothers Dave, Phil, Jake, Fred, Ben, Henry, Harold; one grandchild Daniel Ryan Schneider.

Funeral Service was held June 25, 2016 at 1:30 pm at Vulcan Evangelical Missionary Church, Pastor Peter Campbell officiating. Interment Vulcan Cemetery.

Tributes in Esther’s memory can be made to Samaritans Purse, 20 Hopewell Way, NE, Calgary, AB, T3J 5H5, or Vulcan Community Health Centre Auxiliary, Box 299, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0.

Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.